Very Sad Farewells & Hospital Vist

Our last day started with a bit of a lie in and finishing packing. We were so lucky to squeeze in another eagerly anticipated learning experience… a visit to AIMS Hospital (All India Institute of Medical Science). The site was huge, and our taxi dropped us at gate 2 and we made our way to find our contact Beena, a yoga therapist. We were warmly welcomed and so grateful for the time she spent with us explaining the Indian healthcare system, her research projects, the other government funded research projects and much more. We were shown around various departments, most interestingly the AYUSH building, where patients are provided with Ayurvedaic and yoga therapy, and naturoropathic approaches. Theo treatment rooms were set up for Yoga, steam and Shirodarah treatments, therapy kitchen, and more. I found it so interesting the approach to disease management… patients are triaged and referred to various specialists who explain the processes, benefits and risks/side effects of both medical (traditional western/ drug therapies) as well as Ayurvedic and natural approaches. Patients are then given the choice which approach they would like to take. This was amazing to hear… for example people with diabetes or skin conditions may be given lifestyle and natural advice and interventions to manage/ treat. We spent time with one of the doctors who advised their training modules cover both eastern and western approaches. This feels like true holistic and patient centred care. The large teaching hospital is publishing a lot of collaborative research to demonstrate the effectiveness of Ayurvedic, yogic and naturopathic interventions. We’d assumed since doing yoga from 5/6 years old in school and having some education around non-traditional approaches from a young age, that most people would opt for these in the first instance; but as with our western experience similar barriers around lack of time and wanting a “quicker fix” are still there.

We arrived back at our yoga school for lunch, popped out for a last chai with Sanne in Lakshman Jhula and said some very emotional goodbyes to the beautiful souls we’ve gotten to know over the past 2 weeks (especially our smaller class group). Adiyat, who we have been practicing English with some evenings gifted us a traditional Garhwali scarf, and it was harder than expected to say goodbye.

Our airport taxi was half an hour late due to an influx of people on the roads, visiting Rishikesh for a festival weekend, the annual Maha Shivaratri (Shiva’s marriage to Parvati). This Hindi celebration marks “overcoming darkness and ignorance
in life and the world”. Many were hiking 3-5 hours to Shree Neelkanth Mahadev Temple (a large temple dedicated to Lord Shiva) to worship. It really hit home what a special spiritual place Rishikesh is, given the expected influx of hundreds of thousands of people over the weekend.

Dehradun airport is really small, and we cleared security quickly. As we sat at the gate with 45 minutes to spare, the strangest thing unfolded… we heard our names on the tanoid. We were taken (along with about 5 other passengers) to the airport basement via 2 further security checks. Unsure quite what was going on, it materialised we each had some restricted items in our hold bags that had been picked up by the scanners. In turn we each removed our battery packs/power banks, ipod, and hairspray; then were taken back up to security. This sounds a lot more stressful than it was… we had a good laugh and great chats with the other passengers and staff. Maybe it’s all the “zen”, but we noticed everyone has been so incredibly kind and friendly so far. I suppose we didn’t expect this being such a busy densely populated country, and perhaps Dehli will be different, but we have loved every minute so far and are feeling really positive and grateful.

Maybe it’s also been 2 weeks ending the morning meditations with the mantra:
I am happy, I am healthy, I am peaceful, I am strong, I am grateful, I am joyful, I am blissful…”Anandoham” (I am bliss).

The 35 minute flight went quickly, we waited longer for our transfer! It was a hair raising taxi ride with Shameema our driver. We learned that honking the horn signals a lane change (I had speculated this was instead of an indicator) but that does explain much of the road noise!

We checked into our hotel (Jeyann Inn). A lovely comfy bed, perfect after the long day. It does sound like the window is open though… I’m sure the street chatter will fade into white noise before we know it!Read more